pipe_exec

pipe_exec enables execution of ELF binaries directly from standard input, pipes, or terminal streams without writing the data to a temporary file. It creates an in‑memory file using the memfd_create(2) system call, copies the executable data into that region, and then runs it with fexecve(3). When a regular file is supplied, the tool attempts to execute it in place, avoiding the in‑memory step.

The utility is useful for scenarios where binaries are generated on the fly, transferred over a network, or lack execute permissions, such as piping the output of a compiler or downloading an executable via SSH. By handling the loading and execution internally, it removes the need for intermediate files and simplifies workflows that involve transient binaries.

pipe_exec is distributed under the MIT License, builds with standard development tools, and can be installed system‑wide via a simple make install command. The project is marked as stable and maintained with occasional health checks, targeting developers who need a lightweight, command‑line solution for running binaries from non‑file sources.